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lieve in the correctness of Dr. Bridges' opinion, notwithstanding the above evidence.
I can-
"14. I have been directed by your Excellency to advise you from the facts set forth in the papers before me as to the course you should take. not hesitate to say that I think your Excellency must feel compelled to call upon Mr. May to answer this very grave charge-as evidenced at present only by the fact just stated-in a fuller mamer than he has hitherto answered it. If Dr. Bridges has other facts to adduce in support of the charge you will I presume call upon him distinctly to state them, in order that Mr. May may have an op- portunity of meeting them. I do not see how your Excellency can avoid this inquiry, nor do I apprehend that you will find any difficulty in coming to a de- cision as to whether Mr. May has actively opposed the carrying out of a law which it was his duty actively to enforce, whether he has been merely negligent of his duty, or whether he is entirely free from all blame,
"15.-With very great pain, and only in obedience to your Excellency's orders, I must add that on the evidence before me I am of opinion that Mr. May has been negligent of his duty as Superintendent of Police.--I have the ho- nor to be, your Excellency's very obedient humble servant,
"To His Excellency SIR JOHN Bowring,"
"Governor of Hongkong, &c., &c., &c.”
"H. TUDOR DAVIES.” "Chief Magistrate."
Memorandum by Sir John Bowring.
"1.I have read with much concern the correspondence connected with the proceedings of public functionaries in reference to the Brothel Ordinance.
"2.As regards the Superintendent of Police there is a general charge made by the Acting Colonial Secretary of opposition offered by Mr. May to the enfor cement of the Brothel Ordinance. One case only is adduced by Mr. Bridges which exhibits a culpable neglect of duty on the part of Mr. May, who did not give prompt attention to the instructions of the Acting Colonial Secretary rela- tive to Atai's brothel. I cannot view this neglect without the expression of my marked disapprobation, associated with the hope that in future there will be no repetition of such laxity. Mr. May must be aware that the Brothel Ordinance is so specially under his charge that its efficient working mainly depends upon his ready and hearty co-operation. In Atai's case it would seem ten days were al- lowed to clapse without either bringing the defendant to justice or reporting to the Acting Colonial Secretary the cause of delay--and the proceedings were final- ly instituted and a conviction obtained at the instance of the Registrar General.
"3.-Mr. May's long standing in the service must have made him acquainted with the forms of official correspondence, and I cannot pass over the disrespect he has shown to Mr. Bridges on two occasions in the Documents before me, by the position he has given to the naine and title of the Acting Colonial Secretary, For this slight he owes an apology to Mr. Bridges.
"4. The Registrar General did in my judgment give evidence in Atai's ease tending to implicate Mr. May in direct complicity with the brothel in ques tion, which evidence is contradicted and that charge certainly not established. Justice requires that Mr. Caldwell should revise his statements as to the mode of
escape of the prostitutes whom he supposed had been assisted by a party under Mr. May's protection. On being convinced of his error I think Mr. Caldwell should convey to Mr. May the expression of his regret with the acknowledgment of that error--and I recommend greater caution in any statements connected with the execution of his responsible duties.
"5.--If Mr. Bridges still desires to enter more generally into his accusations against Mr. May; viz: "that he has in every possible way given tacit opposi- tion to the effectual working of the Brothel Ordinance," that "he gives positive
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encouragement to offenders,"--and that "the whole of the Police force follow the lead of their Chief," the gravity of such accusations makes it necessary that the particular instances of Mr. May's so offending should be distinctly stated,-when justice to the Government and to Mr. May may necessitate a thorough investiga-
tion into the averments.
"Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 to be communicated to Mr. May, 1 and 4 to Mr. Caldwell, No. 5 to Mr. Bridges.“ J. B."--" 22/3/58.”—“ G.O.”
"No. 152."
"COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 23rd March, 1858."
"SIR,-The following documents having been submitted by me to His Excellency the Governor
"The depositions taken by the Chief Magistrate in the case of Regina v. Ahtai, convicted of keeping a brothel.
"A letter addressed by Mr. May to Mr. Anstey, Mr. Davies, and Mr. Bridges.
“An official letter from the Acting Colonial Secretary to the Superintendent of Police.
"An official reply to the above enclosing a report by Mr. Inspector Jarman ;- "His Excellency has been pleased to direct the following minute on such correspondence to be communicated to you,—
"1. I have read with much concern the correspondence connected with the proceedings of public functionaries in reference to the brothel Ordinance.
"2. As regards the Superintendent of Police there is a general charge made by the Acting Colonial Secretary of opposition offered by Mr. May to the enforcement of the brothel Oordinance. One case only is adduced by Mr. Bridges which exhibits a culpable neglect of duty on the part of Mr. May, who did not give prompt attention to the instruc- tions of the Acting Colonial Secretary relative to Atai's brothel. I cannot view this neglect without the expression of my marked disapprobation, associated with the hope that in future there will be no repetition of such laxity. Mr. May must be aware that the brothel Or dinance is so specially under his charge that its efficient working mainly depends upon his ready and hearty co-operation. In Atai's case it would seem ten days were allowed to elapse without either bringing the defendant to justice or reporting to the Acting Colonial Secretary the cause of delay-and the proceedings were finally instituted and a conviction obtained at the instance of the Registrar General.
"3. Mr. May's long standing in the service must have made him acquainted with the forms of official correspondence, and I cannot pass over the disrespect he has shown to Mr. Bridges on two occasions in the Documents before me, by the position he has given to the name and title of the Acting Colonial Secretary. For this slight he owes an apology to Mr. Bridges."
"I am so desirous of keeping my private feelings distinct from my official duties in this as in all other matters that it will be more pleasant to me if nothing further be said on the subject of a personal apology. I have, &c.
The SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE."
"No. 153."
4
"W. T. BRIDGES," Acting Colonial Secretary."
"COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, VICTORIA,
HONGKONG, 23rd March, 1858."
"SIR, The depositions in the case of Ahtai convicted of keeping a brothel having with other documents connected therewith been laid by me officially before His Excellency the Governor, he has been pleased to direct the following minute regarding your conduct therein to be communicated to you,—
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